A Generous and Abundant Life

A Generous and Abundant Life

By Pastor Park Ok-soo (Good News Gangnam Church)

In life, there are times when we need money, and times when we must spend it—such as paying college tuition for our children or when a child suddenly falls ill and must be hospitalized. At such times, if we have no money on hand, things become very difficult. That’s why everyone desires to live an abundant life financially—to be able to use money freely when necessary, without worrying or feeling anxious. Because of this, many people try to save money carefully.

In reality, no matter how people live, life turns out quite similar. Very few people are truly wealthy enough to spend freely as they wish. Even the rich sometimes find themselves short of money.

As for me, I have lived abundantly in Jesus until now. Even if I were to say, “Let’s live more frugally this time,” it would not be a problem at all. On the contrary, whenever I have money, I think, “God has given me this money. I want to use it for Him,” or “I want to use it for the brothers and sisters, or for the gospel.”

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Everything We Have Comes from the Lord

Our hearts are not always constant, but when we think about the grace of the Lord, we are often filled with gratitude. At such times, we may pray with thanksgiving, give testimony with a thankful heart, or offer our possessions to God as an expression of gratitude.

We do not become poor because we give to God, nor do we become rich because we withhold from Him. Yet when our thoughts are bound by fear or calculation, we become stingy. That’s why we sometimes hear people say, “That brother is so stingy!”

In truth, everything we possess comes from the Lord. Even if we were to offer it all back to Him, it would not be a loss. But at times our thoughts go in the wrong direction—we worry that after giving to the Lord, life will become difficult. In fact, that is never the case.

I have lived abundantly in the Lord until now, and there has never been a time when I could not do the work of the gospel because of a lack of money. Whenever difficulties arose, I saw the Lord provide what was needed. Whenever I thought of how the Lord was with me, my heart overflowed with thankfulness. So naturally, I never thought about setting aside money “just in case” I might face hardship later.

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Living a Bright, Healthy, and Abundant Life in the Lord

Since the day I was saved, through all these years, I have never spent money on myself. Even now, I rarely spend money for my own sake. Yet God has blessed me so that I lack nothing. Whenever difficulties come, I experience His help and continue to live without any problems.

Even the richest person sometimes hesitates to spend money, and even the poorest person sometimes has money in hand. Therefore, as those who are saved, we have no reason to live bound by money.

We don’t need to worry too much about money. If God allows us to face difficulty, we can simply think, “Let’s spend less.” If God gives us abundance, we can use that money for the gospel or to help others. I believe this is the life of faith.

With the money I receive, I help others—and at times, I also receive help. Either way, it is a blessing in the Lord, and I am thankful. When we are too attached to money, we become stingy. But I believe the Lord who provides for us today will also provide tomorrow.

Even if we have nothing, when we pray to God for what we need, He will surely give it to us. Instead of trying to protect my own life, I would rather look to the Lord. I am truly grateful and happy to live a bright, healthy, and abundant life in Him.

 

毫不吝啬，绰绰有余的生活

 

作者：朴玉洙（好消息江南教会牧师）

 

生活中，我们有需要钱的时候，也有必须花钱的时候，需要给上大学的孩子们交学费，当孩子突然生病时，也需要住院。这时，如果手里没钱，我们就会变得特别难，所以所有人都想在资金方面，过绰绰有余的生活，都希望在必须用钱的时候，不会为了拿钱而提心吊胆，可以轻松地拿出钱。因此，很多人都会为了攒钱而省着用钱。事实上，不管人们是这样生活，还是那样生活，过得都差不多。那些有钱，可以随心所欲地花钱的人，非常少。富翁也有缺钱的时候。

我一直在耶稣里面，丰盛地生活到了现在。就算说“这次让我们拮据一点生活吧”，也不成任何问题。相反，有了钱时，我会想到：“神赐给了我这些钱。我想为神使用这些钱。”或“我想为了弟兄姊妹们使用，或为了福音使用这些钱。”

 

我们所拥有的一切，都是从主而来

我们的心不是一成不变的，但有时想到主的恩典，就会感到无比感激。每当这时，我们会做感谢祷告，或带着感谢的心做见证，也会通过把物资献给神来表达感谢的心。我们不会因为把物资献给神而变得贫穷，也不会因为不献给神而变得富有。可一旦被想法约束，人就会变得吝啬。因此，我们有时也会听到有人说：“那个弟兄怎么那么吝啬啊？”

事实上，我们所拥有的一切都是从主而来的，即便全部献给主，也不可惜。但我们的想法有走向错误方向的时候。我们觉得献给主后，生活会变得艰难。事实上，绝对不是这样。我在主里丰盛地生活到了现在，从来没有因为缺钱，没法做福音工作的时候。每当遇到困难时，我都看到主赐给了我们物资。像这样，一想到主与我同在，我心里就不知有多感谢。我自然也就不会想到，为了防备将来遇到困难而预留出钱来。

 

在主里过明亮、健康、绰绰有余的生活

得救后，这么多年来，我从来没有在我身上花过钱。最近，我也几乎没有为了我花过钱。虽然这样，神也祝福了我，让我没有任何缺乏。每当遇到困难时，我都经历到了神的帮助，没有任何问题地生活着。

再大的富翁，也有舍不得钱的时候；再贫穷的人，也有手头有钱的时候。因此，得救的我们没理由过被金钱束缚的生活。不用太在意钱，如果神让我们困难，那就想：“少花点钱吧。”如果神让我们有余钱，就为了福音使用这些钱，或是去帮助其他人。我觉得这就是信仰人的生活吧。

  我用我得到的钱帮助别人，也接受着帮助。不管怎样，这都是在主里蒙福的事情，所以我很感谢神。如果太被钱束缚，我们就会变得吝啬。我相信，今天主会赐给生活在主里的我们物资，明天也会赐给。就算我们什么都没有，当我们需要什么时，若向神祷告，神就会赐给我们。比起我要保守我的生活，仰望主的生活更好。能在主里过明亮、健康、绰绰有余的生活，我真的特别感谢、特别幸福。